Allies' Growing Air Power

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 81, 30 October 1939, Page 5

Allies' Growing Air Power

300,000 MEN EMPLOYED IN FRANCE TWO HUNDRED MEN JOIN DAILY An official French communique, issued during the week-end served to indicate the staggering growth of the air force in that country. No less than two hundred young men are offering : their services daily to the air force, to serve in the capacity of pilots, mechanics and as wireless operators. In a few days it is anticipated thatjFrancevwill/riave no less than 300,000 men employ-. Ed in aeroplane factories.

Up to October 20th, units of the French air force had taken part in no less than 250 reconnaisance flights over German territory. In engagements wjth tlip enemy, the French had lost eight planes and the enisfriy twenty-four.

A. statement from the British,, R;A.'"F said that the arm w T as ready to resist any indiscriminate bombing by enemy craft. In the past planes had never carried bombs- on reconnaisance flights, but if there was any effort on the part of Germany to infringe the international laws with reference to the safety of civilian populations they would retaliate. From past experience, it had been shown that British pilots were better trained, and better equipped than the German pilots, also that British planes gave better performance than those of the enemy.